Material handling device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a material handling device having spring means for controlling the gripping force in a pair of fingers, and manual means for releasing said gripping force.

O United States Patent ns1 3,680,904

Adie 1451 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE 2,087,128 7/ 1937 Stalker ..294/50.9 3,463,244 8/1969 [72] Inventor. grce C. Adie, Palm Beach Shores, 3,095,096 6/1963 l 3,265,429 8/1966 [73] Assignee: Atomic Power Development As 3,425,734 2/1969 societes, Inc., Detroit, Mich. Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza [22] Filed' June 5 1969 Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham [2l I APPL NO- 330,631 Attorney-Ward, McElhannon, Brooks & Fitzpatrick 152| Us. c1 ..294/19,214/1 CM [57] ABSTRACT [5l] Int. Cl. ..B25j l/00 This invention relates to a material handling device [58] Field of Search ..294/19, 22, 16, 13, 50.9; having spring means for controlling the gripping force 214/1 RC in a pair of fingers, and manual means for releasing said gripping force. [56] References Cited 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,453,301 5/1923 Winkler... 294/22 PTENTEDAUG Herz l snm 2 or 2 INVENTOR. v @wer C. f90/f' MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE This invention relates to material handling devices, which are particularly adapted, among many other possible applications, for use in handling test specimens that have been irradiated in a nuclear reactor.

While many different types of handling tools have been successfully used heretofore, my contribution to the art is a new handling tool which is an improvement over such prior art tools, as will become apparent as the description proceeds.

By way of example, the invention will be herein described and illustrated as applied to a specimen holder handling tool for use with a nuclear reactor. Tensile test specimens of various materials are normally loaded into a special subassembly and placed in the nuclear reactor for irradiation. After removal from the reactor the loaded subassembly is transferred to the cutup pool and disassembled under water. The specimens may be solid, with a maximum diameter of the order of about 0.400 inches, or they may be in bundles of from four to six pieces occupying an envelope of less than 0.400 inches diameter with each piece having a minimum diameter of the order of about 0.100 inches, for example. Normally, the pieces in a bundle are spaced from each other by suitable end caps, thereby leaving most of the length of the specimen unsupported. Calculations show that a gripping pressure of six pounds on a specimen might bend it. It is desirable that the handling tool be able to pick the various types of specimen bundles out of the subassembly and deposit them on the flat surface of a work tray, and it is also desirable to pick them up from the tray and place them in the subassembly. In addition, it is desirable that the tool perform these operations while exerting pressure on the bundles of less than about 6 pounds.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a device comprising the above desired structural and operative features.

Briefly, my invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved material handling device including an elongated tubular mast, a tension spring mounted within the tubular mast, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the tubular mast. A bell crank, having a pair of arms, is provided which is mounted towards the bottom of the tubular mast. The spring is connected to one of the arms of the bell crank, and a movable finger in connected to the other arm. In addition, a stationary finger is mounted on the tubular mast adjacent the movable finger, and the spring acts to urge the bell crank in a direction to close the fingers. The operating lever is manually movable to release the tension of the spring and thereby open the fingers.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter which will be the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the concept on which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that this disclosure be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

One embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevation, partially in section, showing a material handling device constructed in accordance with the concept of this invention, as applied to a specimen holder handling device for use with a nuclear reactor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged medial, longitudinal sectional view of the handling device;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the device taken along the line indicated at 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the internal elements of the handling device; and

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are enlarged longitudinal sectional views showing the operation of the material handling device as employed for picking up test specimens.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the handling tool according to the invention is designated generally at 10, FIG. l. Itis illustrated in the form of a specimen holder for picking `up specimen bundles l2 from a nuclear reactor subassembly, indicated generally at 14. The handling tool comprises an upper T-handle 16 for gripping by the operator and an elongated tubular mast 18 which interconnects the T-handle with a pair of jaws or fingers, indicated generally at 20.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the T-handle 16 is welded to the tubular mast 18, as at 22. Depending upon the required length of the mast 18, it may be fabricated in sections which are interconnected as by means of flanges 24 and bolts 26. The upper end of the tubular mast 18 is provided with a cap 28 having an aperture 30 for receiving a socket head screw 32 which is retained in position by means of a jam nut 34. The head of the set screw is provided with an aperture for receiving one end of a tension spring 36', and the other end of the spring is secured to the top of operating lever bracket 38, as at 40. An operating lever 42 is pivotally mounted on the tubular mast 18, as at 44, adjacent the T-handle 16. As seen in FIG. 4, the operating lever 42 passes through an opening 46 in the operating lever bracket 38, the operating lever being arranged to engage the bracket 38, as at 50 for purposes of releasing the gripping fingers, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, a`small diameter tension cable 52 is mounted on the bottom of the operating lever bracket 38, as at 54, and extends down to a bell crank member, indicated generally at 56, towards the base of the tubular mast 18. As best seen in FIG. 2,'the cable 52 is fxedly attached to a first arm 58 of the bell crank member 56, by means of a bolt 60 with an aperture therein for receiving the cable, the bolt being held in place by means of a socket head screw 62. Referring to FIG. 3, a bracket member 64 is mounted on the tubular mast 18 by means of bolts 66 which extend through the bracket member 64, through the mast 18 and into a backing member 68 inside the mast. It will be appreciated that the rst arm 58 extends from-inside the tubular mast 58 through an aperture 69 in the backing member, tubular mast and bracket` member, respectively. A pair of spaced stationary arms 70 are mounted on the bracket member 64, as at 72. These arms carry a transversely disposed rod 74, which is held in place by means of cotter pins 76. A connecting member 78 of the bell crank 56 is pivotally mounted on the rod 74, this member serving to connect the first arm 58 to a second arm 80, FIG. 4, of the bell crank 56. A movable jaw of finger 82 of the pair of fingers 20 is fixedly mounted on the second arm 80, as at 84. A weight 86, FIGS. 2 and 4, is mounted on the tension cable S2 to engage the first arm 58, as at 88.

As best seen in FIG. 2, one end of` a stationary connecting link 90 is fixedly attached to the stationary arms 70, as at 92, and the other end thereof carries a stationary finger 94.

In operation, the handling tool l is positioned in a nuclear reactor subassembly 14, FIG. l. The operator holds the T-handle 16 and moves the tubular mast until the fingers 20 are adjacent the specimen bundles l2. The fingers may be positioned adjacent specimen bundles 12 as shown by the solid lines or they may be rotated to a position adjacent specimen bundles 12', as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 2. Then, the operator depresses the operating lever 42 from its position as shown by the solid lines to its position as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 2. This action by the operator serves to stretch the spring 36 and removes the tension on the cable 52, thereby allowing the weight 86 to rotate the bell crank 56 in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2, to allow the fingers 20 to open. The operator places the fingers around the specimen bundles 12 and then releases the operating lever 42. Through the action of the spring 36 the operating lever 42 moves from its position as seen in the broken lines to its position as seen in the solid lines in FIG. 2. This spring action tensions the cable 52, thereby rotating the bell crank 56 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 to close the fingers 20 for grasping the specimen bundles l2 as seen in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6. It will be particularly appreciated that the entire gripping force of the gripping fingers closing on the specimen bundles l2 is furnished by the spring member 36. This assures that a preselected pressure is repeatable. The socket head screw 32 and jam nut 34, FIG. 2, serve as an adjustable anchor for the spring to permit the spring to be set to produce any desired pressure. It is not possible for the operator to exert any force himself on the specimen bundle.

It will thus be seen that the present invention does indeed provide an improved handling tool which is superior in simplicity, efficiency and reliability as cornpared to prior art such devices.

Although a certain particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various modifications therefore, after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by letters patent is:

l. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, a tension spring mounted within said tubular mast, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said tubular mast, a bell crank pivotally mounted towards the bottom of said tubular mast, said bell crank having first and second arms, means connecting said spring to said first arm, a movable finger connected to said second arm, a stationary finger, means mounting said stationary finger on said tubular mast adjacent said movable finger, said spring acting to urge said bell crank in a direction to close said fingers, said operating lever manually movable to release the tension of said spring thereby to open said fingers, a cap mounted on the upper end of said mast, means adjustably anchoring said spring to said cap, said means connecting said spring to said first arm comprising an operating lever bracket disposed within said tubular mast and having one end connected to the other end of said spring, means for connecting the other end of operating lever bracket to said first arm and said operating lever being manually movable to engage said operating lever bracket to release the tension of said spring.

2. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, a cap mounted on the upper end of said mast, a tension spring mounted on said cap and extending within said tubular mast, an operating lever bracket disposed within said tubular mast and having a first end connected to the other end of said spring, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said tubular mast adjacent said operating lever bracket, an elongated cable attached to the other end of said operating lever bracket, a bracket member mounted toward the bottom of said tubular mast, a pair of spaced stationary arms mounted on said bracket member, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said stationary arms, said bell crank having first and second arms, the bottom of said cable being attached to the end of said first arm, a movable finger connected to the end of said second arm, a stationary connecting link mounted on said stationary arms, a stationary finger mounted on said connecting link in a position adjacent said movable finger, said spring acting on said cable tending to urge said bell crank in a direction to close said fingers, said operating lever being manually movable to engage said operating lever bracket to release the tension of said spring on said cable, thereby to open said fingers.

3. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, an upper T-handle mounted on said mast, a cap mounted on the upper end of said mast, an adjustable socket head screw mounted on said cap, a tension spring mounted within said tubular mast and having one end attached to said socket head screw, an operating lever bracket disposed within said tubular mast and having a first end connected to the other end of said spring, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said tubular mast adjacent said T-handle and adjacent said operating lever bracket, an elongated cable attached to the other end of said operating lever bracket, a bracket member mounted toward the bottom of said tubular mast, a pair of spaced stationary arms mounted on said bracket member, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said stationary arms, said bell crank having first and second arms, the bottom of said cable being attached to the end of said first arm, a movable finger connected to the end of said second arm, a stationary connecting link mounted on said stationary arms, a stationary finger mounted on said connecting link in a position adjacent said movable finger, a weight mounted on said cable adjacent said first arm for urging said bell crank to pivot in a first direction to open said fingers, said spring acting on said cable tending to urge said bell crank in an opposite direction to close said tingers, said operating lever being manually movable to engage said operating lever bracket to release the tension of said spring on said cable, thereby to open said fingers.

4. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, a tension spring mounted within said tubular mast, an operating lever having one end pivotally mounted on said tubular mast, said tubular mast having an opening and said operating lever ex tending across the interior of said tubular mast and outwardly through said opening, said operating 'lever being disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tubular mast, a bell crank pivotally mounted towards the bottom of said tubular mast, said bell crank having first and second arms, control means connecting said spring to said first arm, a movable finger connected to said second arm, a stationary finger, means mounting such stationary finger on said tubular mast adjacent said movable finger, each of said fingers being disposed in a paralled offset relation with respect to said tubular mast, said spring acting to urge said bell crank in a direction to close said fingers, means mounted adjacent said operating lever for adjusting the tension in said spring to control the gripping force of said fingers, said operating lever being connected to said control means so that manual movement in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular mast releases the tension of said spring thereby to open said fingers.

5. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, a tension spring mounted within said tubular mast, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said tubular mast, a bell crank pivotally mounted towards the bottom of said tubular mast, said bell crank having first and second arms, a tension member connecting said spring to said first arm, a movable finger connected to said second arm, a stationary finger, means mounting said stationary finger on said tubular mast adjacent said movable finger, said spring acting to urge said bell crank in a direction to close said fingers, a weight mounted on said tension member adjacent said first arm for urging said bell crank in a direction to open said fingers, said operating lever being manually movable to release the tension of said spring thereby to operi said fingers.

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1. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, a tension spring mounted within said tubular mast, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said tubular mast, a bell crank pivotally mounted towards the bottom of said tubular mast, said bell crank having first and second arms, means connecting said spring to said first arm, a movable finger connected to said second arm, a stationary finger, means mounting said stationary finger on said tubular mast adjacent said movable finger, said spring acting to urge said bell crank in a direction to close said fingers, said operating lever manually movable to release the tension of said spring thereby to open said fingers, a cap mounted on the upper end of said mast, means adjustably anchoring said spring to said cap, said means connecting said spring to said first arm comprising an operating lever bracket disposed within said tubular mast and having one end connected to the other end of said spring, means for connecting the other end of operating lever bracket to said first arm and said operating lever being manually movable to engage said operating lever braCket to release the tension of said spring.
 2. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, a cap mounted on the upper end of said mast, a tension spring mounted on said cap and extending within said tubular mast, an operating lever bracket disposed within said tubular mast and having a first end connected to the other end of said spring, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said tubular mast adjacent said operating lever bracket, an elongated cable attached to the other end of said operating lever bracket, a bracket member mounted toward the bottom of said tubular mast, a pair of spaced stationary arms mounted on said bracket member, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said stationary arms, said bell crank having first and second arms, the bottom of said cable being attached to the end of said first arm, a movable finger connected to the end of said second arm, a stationary connecting link mounted on said stationary arms, a stationary finger mounted on said connecting link in a position adjacent said movable finger, said spring acting on said cable tending to urge said bell crank in a direction to close said fingers, said operating lever being manually movable to engage said operating lever bracket to release the tension of said spring on said cable, thereby to open said fingers.
 3. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, an upper T-handle mounted on said mast, a cap mounted on the upper end of said mast, an adjustable socket head screw mounted on said cap, a tension spring mounted within said tubular mast and having one end attached to said socket head screw, an operating lever bracket disposed within said tubular mast and having a first end connected to the other end of said spring, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said tubular mast adjacent said T-handle and adjacent said operating lever bracket, an elongated cable attached to the other end of said operating lever bracket, a bracket member mounted toward the bottom of said tubular mast, a pair of spaced stationary arms mounted on said bracket member, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said stationary arms, said bell crank having first and second arms, the bottom of said cable being attached to the end of said first arm, a movable finger connected to the end of said second arm, a stationary connecting link mounted on said stationary arms, a stationary finger mounted on said connecting link in a position adjacent said movable finger, a weight mounted on said cable adjacent said first arm for urging said bell crank to pivot in a first direction to open said fingers, said spring acting on said cable tending to urge said bell crank in an opposite direction to close said fingers, said operating lever being manually movable to engage said operating lever bracket to release the tension of said spring on said cable, thereby to open said fingers.
 4. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, a tension spring mounted within said tubular mast, an operating lever having one end pivotally mounted on said tubular mast, said tubular mast having an opening and said operating lever extending across the interior of said tubular mast and outwardly through said opening, said operating lever being disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tubular mast, a bell crank pivotally mounted towards the bottom of said tubular mast, said bell crank having first and second arms, control means connecting said spring to said first arm, a movable finger connected to said second arm, a stationary finger, means mounting such stationary finger on said tubular mast adjacent said movable finger, each of said fingers being disposed in a paralled offset relation with respect to said tubular mast, said spring acting to urge said bell crank in a direction to close said fingers, means mounted adjacent said operating lever for adjusting the tension in said spring to control the gripping force of said fingers, said operating lever being connected to said Control means so that manual movement in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular mast releases the tension of said spring thereby to open said fingers.
 5. A material handling device comprising an elongated tubular mast, a tension spring mounted within said tubular mast, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said tubular mast, a bell crank pivotally mounted towards the bottom of said tubular mast, said bell crank having first and second arms, a tension member connecting said spring to said first arm, a movable finger connected to said second arm, a stationary finger, means mounting said stationary finger on said tubular mast adjacent said movable finger, said spring acting to urge said bell crank in a direction to close said fingers, a weight mounted on said tension member adjacent said first arm for urging said bell crank in a direction to open said fingers, said operating lever being manually movable to release the tension of said spring thereby to open said fingers. 